It may not seem like much but a simple 20p could save drivers up to £10,000 this winter.

As snow, ice and rain hit the UK during the winter months driving can become hazardous, especially when drivers are not prepared for bad weather conditions and poor visibility.

Before getting behind the wheel drivers are being urged to do one simple test using their loose change - and it could help to prevent crashes.

Checking tyres are not worn could not only prevent accidents but could also prevent insurers failing to pay out in the event of an accident. If tyres are not road legal, it could even result in prosecution.

Driving with dangerous or defective tyres also puts drivers at risk of a fine of up to £2,500 and three points on their license. That is per tyre, so four illegal tyres could mean a fine of £10,000 and 12 penalty points, according to the RAC.

The 20p test is a way to check if the tread - the grooves in the rubber of tyres - is deep enough to be safe and road legal.

The law says tyre tread of the middle three quarters of the tyre must be a minimum of 1.6mm deep on all tyres and this is the same depth as the band around a 20p coin. By placing the coin into your tyre tread it could show if your tyres are legally allowed on the road.

Why check tyre tread?

The tread in tyres have a very specific purpose. They help to push water out from under the wheels in wet conditions and keep the rubber of the tyre gripped to the road's surface.

If the tyres cannot shift the water because of low tread depth there is a chance the car's tyres will lose contact with the road and the driver could loose control of the car. This is known as aquaplaning and at high speeds could result in major accidents.

At high speeds a tyre can shift a gallon of water from under the car every second, which highlights how important proper tread depth can be.

What else can you do?

To avoid a fine, an accident or both check your tyres using the 20p test.

Safety charity Tyresafe has some extra advice: "While you’re checking tread, have a look at the tyre’s general condition. Tyre manufacturers don’t make tyres with bulges, cuts, nails or cracking in them so if any of these are visible, you need to have it examined by a tyre professional."